The Twins: Remember Thoreau

Just some thoughts I had while I was on my commute home from work.


I pulled up the gas station with my last five dollars which these days is just enough for a CUP of gas, when I spotted these twins I've seen in my slumber before. It was weird, as they stood on the side of the building leaning against the wall chilling like thugs, that I recognized them.I've been looking for these two for years and yet here they stood before me, really not noticing me. 'Maybe they don't remember me', I hoped, but they spotted me and damn sure knew who I was. I couldn't avoid talking to them so I made the first move.

"Man what's up with yall two dudes man?" I said with obvious frustration in my voice. "I've been trying to chase you two down for years and I feel like yall been ducking me for some reason. What did I do to yall to not wanna deal with me anymore?"

The first twin, the older of the two yet he seems like the younger of the two, took a sip of his Icee then started snickering.

"You're kidding me right?" he said. "You really don't have a clue do you? You letting that bullshit them people feed you get into your head, that or YOU just forgot about what we talked about the last time we saw you."

I was really confused now. "Nah I don't remember what we talked about last time. Refresh my memory" I responded angrily.

Both twins are laughing at me now. "This dude silly bruh" the older twin said. "Tell me about it" said the other one who LOOKS older but was birthed AFTER the other twin.

The oldest twin stated: "The last time we talked fam you said you wanted to keep things simple. You didn't want to complicate things, so you took the path of least resistance and for a long time you were content with it. But YOU started getting caught up with the everyday struggle and lost contact with US. See me I was cool with it because you had the things you asked for, a beautiful wife, handsome and well-behaved children, a roof of your own over your head, that was we talked about! But you felt like that wasn't good enough so you made crazy decisions, impulsive mistakes and now you wanna blame ME?? Nah my dude, I can't let you do that to me!"

I was shocked.....and saddened because he spoke the truth. That's when the other twin spoke up before I could say anything.

Younger twin: "I told you YEARS ago that I wasn't talking to you until you were ready. You kept THINKING you was ready to meet with me but you wasn't so I kept myself away from you. All the things you did in the past and up until now keeps you believing that I'm supposed to come running TO YOU but I'm telling you this AGAIN just so that we're clear. STOP CHASING ME! If you do what you're supposed to do and keep preparing a place for me I promise you, like I did then, that I will see you and you won't be looking for me, I'll find you myself."

"Cmon man let's go" the younger twin said as they walked away from me. "Remember Thoreau" was the last thing the younger twin said I stood there and didn't move until they were just blurs in my distant vision.

I climbed back in my car and began to drive. I wanted to cry but I didn't. The truth hurts but I respect it more than anything. That conversation was eye-opening in so many ways and has since changed my outlook on things. I arrived home and kissed my wife and hugged all of my kids. My wife asked me how my day went and I told her about the talk I had with the twins. When asked if I recalled their names, It dawned on me that I didn't catch their names but..... I knew exactly who they were.

The oldest twin was Dreams and the younger twin was Success.

A.P.E. - Rep My City

We started shooting this video close to a month ago but after consecutive weeks of bad weather and SXSW we were able to get it done. It was alot of fun working with these young men who are focused and got a good dude leading the way for them. Thanks again to DVZN Media for the assist and a massive shoutout and thanks to DJ Poncho! You can hear more of A.P.E. (After Party Entertainment) at http://www.hotbox254.com